Everyone strives for happiness. Yet, so often it is hard to find.  This can be because many people are not quite sure what will make them happy.  For some people it is merely having enough food to eat.  For others it is having a good job.  For others still it is getting more money, more possessions and more prestige. And for some, happiness is having a good family that is well adjusted and not "dysfunctional".  For many less fortunate people, happiness is just having their health and just being alive for another day.

Often, happiness is only temporary. It doesn't seem long before people begin to lose their happiness and start searching for it again. For a lot of people, searching for happiness is a life-long but sometimes elusive pursuit.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.  Proverbs 3:13

According to the text cited above a person will be happy if he finds wisdom and acquires understanding.  Just what does make us happy?  Is it wisdom and understanding.or something else?  What should make us happy?  Are those around us happy?  Are you happy?  Are you pursuing happiness?  Should you be doing so?

"Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is one of the most famous phrases in the United States Declaration of Independence.

It is listed as one of the "inalienable rights" of man.  Is happiness our right?  If you are pursuing happiness, where is it found?   Many think that happiness is found in pleasure, money, fame or glory.  However, some have found these things do not produce happiness at all.

Happiness is not found in pleasure. W. C. Fields an atheist and partaker of many earthly pleasures was found on his deathbed, Christmas morning, reading a Bible.  His earthly "pleasures" had finally destroyed his body. When asked why he was engaged in such a pursuit quickly replied, "Looking for loopholes.looking for loopholes".

Happiness is not found in money.Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said, "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth."

Happiness is not found in position and fame. Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote, "Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, and old age a regret."

Happiness is not found in glory. Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent because, he said, "There are no more worlds to conquer".

It has been noted that the three keys to happiness are as follows:

First, fret not.He loves you.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39

Second, faint not.He holds you.

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  Pslams 139:10

Third, fear not.He keeps you.

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.  Psalms 121:5

To be blessed is to be happy.  To be happy is to rejoice.  As already seen, the Bible has much to say about happiness.  If happiness is to be pursued, where else does the Bible say happiness is found?

First, scripture states that happiness is doing the will of GOD.  Who would ever think obedience is happiness?

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.  Psalm 40:8

Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.  For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.  Psalm 128:1-2

Happiness is trusting in the LORD.

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.  Proverbs 16:20

Trusting in the LORD generates happiness in us because we see His hand working in our lives to turning every situation into something good.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to comen height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 8:28, 31-39

Not only do we experience happiness through trusting the LORD in our lives, but also because He has saved us and justified us. We can have peace with GOD through Jesus.  This peace allows happiness to flourish.  A natural by-product of happiness is being able to rejoice.  Rejoicing comes as a consequence of the peace that comes from trusting in the LORD for salvation and justification.  We can rejoice no matter what the circumstances might be.  We rejoice in hope and we can glory in tribulations.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope:  and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  Romans 5:1-5

As we rejoice in the fact that we are saved and justified, we also rejoice in trials that befall us.  These trials, by testing our faith, produce patience in us.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8

We also rejoice in the Lord, through prayer before our LORD, through meditating on good, and then by testing all things and holding fast to good we know, through abstaining from every form of evil and as mentioned above through obedience.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Philippians 4:4-9, 13

Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  Quench not the Spirit.  Despise not prophesyings.  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.  Abstain from all appearance of evil.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

Finally as stated above, to be blessed is to be happy.  Jesus had direct words regarding being blessed.  According to Him people with particular characteristics are blessed (are happy or should be).  We should rejoice when we find any of these characteristics in our life.  These are characteristics of the "big-shots" of the Bible, the prophets of the Old Testament.  Not only should we rejoice now but should look forward to rewards because these traits are found in our character.  Such a deal!  What in the world are these things?

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.   Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.  Matthew 5:3-12

They aren't what you thought, are they?  Read them again and meditate on these things for a while.   We are blessed.  We are blessed because of GOD.  We are happy because of GOD.   The people around us who do not know GOD are looking in all the wrong places for happiness.  Is it a wonder that happiness is so elusive?  Don 't worry.be happy.put a smile on your face and a song in your heart. be tapped into the only real source of happiness that exists.